The Auburn Tigers opened up as more than a touchdown favorite (-7.5) against the Baylor Bears during their Week 1 clash at Mercedes-Benz Stadium in Atlanta, Georgia, on Saturday, September 5. CBS Sports' Robby Kalland believes that "stands out."
Kalland believes first-year head coach Alex Golesh, his offensive coordinator, Joel Gordon, and his transfer quarterback from the USF Bulls, Byrum Brown, will translate quickly in a Power 4 setting, and especially against Baylor out of the gate.
The up-and-down DJ Lagway, who once looked like a star under Billy Napier with the Florida Gators before his passer rating fell off during the 2025 season, which was partly played under interim coach Billy Gonzales and interim play-caller Ryan O'Hara, is the Bears' counter, as Kalland says.
"Auburn earned a 38-24 road win in this matchup last season -- a result that foreshadowed Baylor's struggles but proved something of a mirage for a Tigers team that had trouble scoring for much of the year," Kalland said.
"Both teams will look different when they meet in Atlanta to open the 2026 season, but oddsmakers are clearly bullish on Auburn's trajectory in Year 1 under Alex Golesh on the Plains. Golesh brought several players with him from a strong USF squad, most notably quarterback Byrum Brown, and the expectation is that Auburn's offense will be far more explosive.
"Baylor counters with a high-profile transfer of its own in former Florida quarterback DJ Lagway, hoping he can help reverse course after a dismal 2025 campaign. If nothing else, oddsmakers anticipate points with new quarterbacks on both sides. Still, the Tigers being a sizable favorite on a neutral field stands out."
Auburn faces a Baylor team stuck in overdrive like Tigers used to be
Baylor enters this the 2026 season with a bit of a lame-duck situation. Head coach Dave Aranda and offensive coordinator Jake Spavital have been at it since 2023 in Waco, producing one winning season and one bowl game appearance in the Texas Bowl. The Bears are hoping that first-year defensive coordinator Joe Klanderman is the difference between last year's struggles and this year's.
Unfortunately for Baylor, oddsmakers see a more sustainable setup in East Central Alabama. Golesh has proven himself with fewer resources than he's getting at Auburn. Despite the oil spending deep in the Heart of Texas, the Bears aren't more talented than the Tigers.
Perhaps Drayton McLane will want to spend more with a new head coach in Aranda's place sometime in the future. Baylor is behind Auburn until the billionaire Bear fans want to get as involved as Jimmy Rane and Co. Truthfully, Baylor is not that far off, but it'll be on September 5.